Gomel

The musicians of Tor Band were convicted in the southern city of Gomel last week of multiple criminal charges, including creating an "extremist formation" and insulting the Mr Lukashenko.

The rare incident in Gomel region was reported by the Belarusian border guard service, which did not explain why it had not publicised it at the time.

The authorities also reported detaining 30 people in the city of Gomel on the border with Ukraine, “with the purpose of identifying connections with foreign members of extremist groups.”

Belarus began staging what it called anti-sabotage drills in the Gomel region on Oct.

The strident critic of President Alexander Lukashenko underwent surgery last week and was put in intensive care in a ward in Gomel in southeast Belarus.